Plaque on the teeth causes inflammation of the gums. Such a gum disease is called gingivitis. Since inflamed gums are often painless at an early stage, most people are unaware of it. However, the inflammation can spread further to the jawbone, which can cause an irreversible breakdown of the jawbone, also referred to as periodontitis. In an advanced stage, this can lead to tooth loss. It is therefore very important to have your teeth checked twice a year.

Depending on the severity of the inflammation and the amount of calculus (above and below the gum), a dental cleaning (by the dentist) or curettage (by the periodontist) is chosen. A curettage is performed when the inflammation is more advanced and there is a lot of tartar both above and below the gum and is often performed under local anesthesia. Treatment by the dentist or periodontist makes little difference if the self-care remains below par. The result strongly depends on how well you follow the advice of the dentist.